S3 vs. Corsa VXR, M3(all models) & R6 :)

Olly P said:
Fair point, just looked up there 0 - 60 times, I thought they were high 4 secconds, there actually 5.2/5.5! Still have no problem beating a S3, be closer than I thought though!
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Depends where you look, i've seen from 4.9 - 5.2. I think the latter is probably more realistic. 0-100 around 12. 30-70 around 4 secs which is quite impressive but need high revs on the dial in 2nd gear for this!

I'd love to be in an MTM or 300bhp plus S3 to see the M3 drivers face!!!

It has to be said, there aren't many M3 owners out there that can actually drive the thing, on proper roads!
 
Drove my dads 330ci tonight all the way to Linconlshire and back (100 plus miles)

Very nice, smooth, great engine note, smooth solid handling. Torquey engine but not a mapped S3 beater, no where near the punch. Still a very capable car in the right hands. The steering feel and brakes are better than my S3 but its forever slipping over uneven surfaces (no LSD!). I think its slightly quicker than a standard S3 but such a different drive
 
ianysm said:
Yes, but people must remember that 0-60 only tells half the story. On a nice dry grippy surface with a very well executed launch, the M3 flies, but add some uneven surface, abit of damp and a lead foot driver and its nowwhere. PLus the M3 does 70 in 2nd gear where the S3 needs 3rd.

Now add bumpy country lanes and dampness then the S3 is a fine A-B machine capable of staying ahead. Straight line speed the M3 has it above 100mph (where it really shines) but i don't think the S3 is as far behind as you might think.

I do find the S3 slightly less secure and confidence inspiring in some conditions, mid corner bumps etc but there's no dounting its traction. I miss the tail out action too but thats not everyones taste and i think one day it would have bit me hard as i got abit ***** with it!!

Love the S3!
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I thought we was talking about straight line drag race here. :racer: I'd still take an M3 Coupe over an 8L S3 given the choice, but like you say, not many people can drive an M3 properly on te open road, me included, but I'd be having loads of fun trying. :)
 
Yeh i gotta agree, loads of fun and becoming alot easier to get behind the wheel of one now too.

I recommend them!!!

Now, RS4. That i do fancy....hmmm...
 
As has been said the M3 is a different car totally. To be compared to the S4 I think.
 
tiz true i think. funny how not many people seem to talk about the s4 though.
 
I don't think you can compare an E46 M3 to an S3 of any era.
The M3 will obiliterate an S3 in most cases.

I had a race with on on my R6, and they are darn quick I tell you, and my bike's not slow.
Saying that, I have also left some behind in my car on several occasions. It is very satisfying indeed.:icon_thumright:
 
to say the M3 will oblitorate the remapped S3 is pure ignorance.... given the information contained in this thread and info about the car in general..yes they are quick and yes you shouldnt compare the two - but reality isnt as simple as you'd get killed by one of these cars ......i think Ian is a pinacle part of this debate, after all he has owned one and also driven against one in what seems like a fair fight.....

im not clinging to Ian's comments, if you read mine before his comments i share the same view based upon solid undisputed facts and using my nowse.....

if you werent killing an M3 with your R6 id suggest you need to learn to ride
 
I must admit I find it hard to believe an S3 remapped would keep with an E46 M3 in a straight line, a-b back roads maybe...I appreciate Ian has owned both and should know as well as anyone, but I was under the impression an M3 did 0-100mph in approx 10.5 secs compared to the S3's 14ish secs...I think you'd be doing well to keep with one in a straight line with a remapped 8P S3 running 300+bhp...

All the above taking into consideration both able drivers...
 
I had some interesting races against bikes in the M3 too and stayed ahead of alot of them, simply because i could maintain speeds well above 100mph where the M3 shines.

However, below 100mph as mentioned above. The S3 isn't far off in 'real world' driving

Cheers for the comments Animal!
 
I've been in a few M3's in the past and in my opinion as much as I love my S3 it doesn't even scratch the surface of the BMW's performance, the thing that an S3 will have going for it is that its easier to drive at the limit but if the driver of the M3 knows what he's doing he will eat you for breakfast!

I think your all right as well. if anything you should be comparing to the S4, or if we want the audi's to sound alot better the RS4 :):redrs4:
 
Sorry guys but I know my S3 with remap wouldn't get near an M3! MY mate has an E36 M3 EVO which is 321bhp, which is 17bhp less than the E46 M3 and he left me for dead at the ring last month. As soon as you get on the Nurburgring there is a very long flatout straight before the first bend. We both got on the ring together and floored it at the same time and he was off, didn't see him again that lap.

This test is slightly flawed in that he has stripped out all his leather interior and has AP brakes and coilovers but in a straight line he blew me away.

The E46 M3 is 338bhp and has a 0-60 of 5 seconds. My s3 has a VAGCOM bhp reading of 259bhp and as standard the 0-60 is 6.2 for 225bhp. I cant see a remap on an S3 making much difference to the 0-60 time, maybe half a second. I know the midrange is different but from my experience of a 0-100+ at the ring I got served.
 
1animal1 said:
to say the M3 will oblitorate the remapped S3 is pure ignorance....

if you werent killing an M3 with your R6 id suggest you need to learn to ride
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Hahaha...
I personally think you're obtusely overrating the performance of your s3.

An M3 would have you in almost all situations if the driver is worth half his salt.
I have driven both a normal E46 and CSL, and at the time my car was Jabba remapped. And I'm telling you, my S3 won't touch them.

As for comment on my riding... you want to come out for a ride sometime and teach me Valentino?
 
jojo said:
This is the A3/S3 Forum that's why, I'm sure the M3 vs S4(S5 if you are comparing todays cars) debate is well talked about in other dedicated forums.
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I did notice that this wasnt a s4 forum, i also noticed this wasnt an m3 forum but it still gets compared to alot on topics such as these!
 
Westle said:
Sorry guys but I know my S3 with remap wouldn't get near an M3! MY mate has an E36 M3 EVO which is 321bhp, which is 17bhp less than the E46 M3 and he left me for dead at the ring last month. As soon as you get on the Nurburgring there is a very long flatout straight before the first bend. We both got on the ring together and floored it at the same time and he was off, didn't see him again that lap.

This test is slightly flawed in that he has stripped out all his leather interior and has AP brakes and coilovers but in a straight line he blew me away.

The E46 M3 is 338bhp and has a 0-60 of 5 seconds. My s3 has a VAGCOM bhp reading of 259bhp and as standard the 0-60 is 6.2 for 225bhp. I cant see a remap on an S3 making much difference to the 0-60 time, maybe half a second. I know the midrange is different but from my experience of a 0-100+ at the ring I got served.
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As i said before, too much emphasis is being placed on 0-60/0-100 times and they are not a true representation of a cars real world performance. There are so many factors such as gearing, grip, revs, weight, driver etc in a test such as those.

Real world driving is coming up behind a mapped S3 in your M3 while along a bumpy back lane (even better if wet!!) and wondering why you can't over take!! Unless the straights were long enough of course

Finally, ignore BHP and look at the torque figures. An M3 only has 269lb/ft at 4-5k revs. A Mapped S3 has 270-280 i think.

Then look at Torque to weight ratio... S3 is ahead!! Thats the most improtant figure for real world cross country driving. Then add 4wd traction and the M3 isn't so comfortably in the lead

Don't get me wrong, i miss lots about my M3 but i think i can make faster more relaxing progress on the damp Peak district roads i commute in my S3!
 
I like both cars. 8L S3 and the E36 M3. If i could pick i'd have an S3 over the E46 M3! But if we were to bring in the E46 M3 have that over both cars with out a doubt. But in less there in the right hands i think an S3 wouldnt be left for dead. Most people i see down by me driving M3 seem to have problem putting the power down. Also seen one go side ways and by the look of the guys face think he never meant to do it lol.


Dansmith instead of bring the RS4 in to make audi sound better i'll bring in an S3 :) This is totally off topic but oh well, this thread been off topic for a while we got bike involved, M3 so might aswell drop this in....Not sure if any one will be interested but one of the lads Andy on the 8p section has a real problem with modding his 8P S3 and think i've fallen i love with it ha:wub: Now this S3 will eat M3 for breakfast! And most other cars on the road with out a doubt! I'd like to see how it do against an RS4(love the sound!).
He also raced it against another guy Jonnyc Golf Gti ED30 think thats running about 370-385bhp but its been stripped so a lot lighter.
Jonnyc used to own one of the fastest S3 in the UK at 417bhp till he sold it and Andy Beast started pushing the limits even more! At well over 400bhp!
Andy uploaded two video of his S3 racing an R8. Once Andy got the gearing right the R8 didnt pull away as much as you would of expected!
Here the link scrow down
http://audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=64256&page=5

I love these kind of threads always brings a smile to my face :)


Thanks

Ashley
 
I've driven an S4, various M3's, and have owned two S3's (one standard and one remapped). The remapped S3 has a lot of mid-range and gives the impression of feeling faster than it really is. To be fair it wasn't that much faster than my R32 in a straight line.

The S3 - even in remapped form with reliable 255 bhp - is no match for an M3 in a straight line, by the time the S3 hits 5000 RPM it has run out of puff while the M3 is just stretching its legs. At 5000RPM + the S3 just seems unhappy, the engine is screaming away and the turbo has given up.

I've raced an S4 convertible and an M3 in my mapped S3, both cars passed me comfortably and the M3 was a few car lengths ahead of the S4 as well. The S3 is good from 3000RPM to 5500RPM and to get the most out of it you have to stay on boost.
 
But i bet your race was near enough straight line?

No body is doubting that the M3 will easily win in a straight line but i'm talking bumpy back roads etc. I lived with a mapped M3 for 4 years across exactly the same roads i now live with a mapped S3 and the S3 is better at putting its power down over the bumps etc, in the wet its far better.

The M3 is a far nicer machine to drive and more fun and rewarding, but for sheer a-b progress its closer than you think. Depending on what roads we're talking. Smooth city bypasses etc are a different kettle of fish, but they're not 'ROADS'!!!
 
yeah ill be wasting time thinking about it whilst on my weekend bender with my new 'Valentino' title - still think an R6 should take an M3 unless you've put diesel in the tank:haha:
 
hey guys spin it off onto yet another tangent, theres this n*b who works with me and he has an 04 plate SL500, thinks hes a bad *** in it, picture a scrawny lil **** with white complextion and terrible dress sense (25yr old)...... rolling start over a roundabout today he cut me up thinking he was a clever **** and booted up my favourite stretch of road, needless to say i was in 2nd on boost when he overtook and gladly sat on his **** all the way up the gears.....ALL the way up the gears ;o)
 
thats quite impressive against a sl500, thought it would pull way quite easily
 
na tis a very heavy car.....the kid went from a C2 into that a few months back, thought 5ltrs would annoy me as im always going on about cars.... i looked at the potential figures when he got it and they arent as impressive as you think... either way he was tanning it, could smell the fumes - hate to think how much fuel he wasted next to mine :D
 
hummmm interesting. didnt think they would be that heavy compared to ours to make them that even. fair play though
 
yup i know for certain this kid would have been more keen to beat me than any person i know..... thats why im so chuffed :eek:D
 
I had a little run with a SL500 about a week ago, from rolling start from about 20 he probably pulled about 2 lengths i was three up too, and i was suffering quite badly from heatsoak at the time hope to see the same pair of pillocks once ive got a shiny new IC (roll on sunday) and im on my own id fancy my chances then for sure :)
 
I think some people spend to much time reading spec sheets and have misunderstood Ians point about this M3 S3 debate. Most races are rarely from 0 to X amount , most are from 20, 40, 50 to X amount of mph were 0-60 means nothing. I wouldn't disagree with anyone that a S3 would get it **** whoop in a straight line race. Alot of drivers CANNOT use their cars to it full potential and a car such as a M3 is a perfect example. Great chaasis, engine etc (not very good brake though) but finding a decent M3 driver will be hard to come by, although if you know the best way to use an M3 then it is one lethal weapon. A S3 in the really world I personally think ye they can hold their own against a M3 in the right environment and conditions ie wet roundabouts with not the best tarmac, twisty B roads with uneven , camber roads surfaces. The average driver cannot use a M3 to its full potential wereas in a S3 they can. I did want an E46 M3 as my next car but after seeing the 135i go, that might be the next ride
 
1animal1 said:
hey guys spin it off onto yet another tangent, theres this n*b who works with me and he has an 04 plate SL500,

needless to say i was in 2nd on boost when he overtook and gladly sat on his **** all the way up the gears.....ALL the way up the gears ;o)
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You would've kept up with him, even if he was in a Lambo... cos you're driving a mighty s3 remember.:laugh:
 
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